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Janet Browne – Darwin

    A Biography

    Many Minds | 03 July 2026 | 1h 19m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify

    Interview with Janet Browne about her book Darwin: A Biography. Traces Darwin’s intellectual journey from his formative Beagle voyage, highlighting how Lyell’s geology inspired his understanding of deep time and gradual change, which he then applied to biology. Discusses his work on species from pigeons and barnacles to plants and worms, his relationship with Alfred Russel Wallace, and the reception of Darwin’s later controversial works on human evolution and emotion. Notes Darwin’s remarkably forward-thinking ideas on plant intelligence and animal agency.

    Book cover

    Kostas Kampourakis: Debunking Myths and Falsehoods About Charles Darwin

      The Dissenter | 15 May 2025 | 0h 47m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
      Interview with Kostas Kampourakis about his book Darwin Mythology: Debunking Myths, Correcting Falsehoods. Discusses myths and falsehoods associated with Darwin, including whether his ideas were original to him; the Galápagos Islands and the finches; whether Darwin was an armchair theoretician; his reaction to Lamarck’s ideas; Alfred Russell Wallace; whether Darwin’s opponents had good arguments; the origins of the phrase “survival of the fittest”; essentialism; African human origins; whether Darwin’s theory was revolutionary; and whether it makes sense to question Darwin. Reflects on what we can learn about how science works by debunking such myths.

      See also other episodes on evolution.

      Bird Brains, Bird Sex, and All Kinds of Beauty (with Matt Ridley)

        EconTalk | 24 March 2025 | 1h 16m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
        Interview with Matt Ridley about his book Birds, Sex and Beauty: The Extraordinary Implications of Charles Darwin’s Strangest Idea. Discusses the long-standing debate between Darwin’s theory of sexual selection, where females choose mates based on beauty, and alternative views, particularly Wallace’s, which emphasize signals of good genes and survival fitness. Argues that females choosing attractive mates can lead to a self-reinforcing cycle, favoring “sexy” offspring regardless of survival advantages.

        My favourite author discussing a new book on my favourite podcast.

        Matt Ridley on Birds, Sex and Beauty

          Instant Genius | 21 March 2025 | 0h 34m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
          Interview with Matt Ridley about his book Birds, Sex and Beauty: The Extraordinary Implications of Charles Darwin’s Strangest Idea. Discusses evolution by sexual selection, explaining the runaway processes that have led to the development of flamboyant displays and behaviours, why choosing a mate may well be a popularity contest, and why it’s so important to give birth to sexy sons.